Former NBA Players Joe And Jordan Crawford Open Speakeasy In Detroit

CRED Café, the latest family-owned cafe and speakeasy in Detroit, owned by former NBA players Joe and Jordan Crawford.

Detroit News reports CRED Cafe, the latest family-owned cafe and speakeasy in Detroit, owned by former NBA players Joe and Jordan Crawford, had its grand opening Dec 6. The multi-faceted space serves as a coffee shop, bar, and event space, offering patrons a unique experience from day to night.

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Cred Cafe 6340 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit #speakeasy #coffee #detroit #coworkingspace #foodiesofdetroit #detroitfoodiefinds #blackownedbusiness #michigan
♬ HOOLIGANG – Joey Valence & Brae

CRED Cafe, an acronym for “Crawford, Redefining Every Dream,” originated from the brothers’ vision while traveling abroad. Recognizing a void in similar establishments in Detroit, they proposed the idea of transforming their family-owned event space into a cafe for their parents and younger brother.

The cafe’s concept blends the charm of a coffee shop during the day, offering patrons a selection of snacks, pastries, and coffee sourced from Angela Yee’s Coffee Uplifts People. By night, a concealed door leads visitors to a speakeasy reminiscent of Detroit’s Prohibition-era bars. The venue, equipped with a bar, lounge, and event space, can accommodate up to 75 people, the outlet reports.

The Crawford family received support from the city’s Motor City Match small-business program, securing a $60,000 grant to aid in renovations and equipment. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, along with the Detroit Economic Growth Corp., joined the Crawford family for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Rivertown.

Sylvia Crawford, the mother of Joe and Jordan, serves as the cafe’s president and CEO. Reflecting on their journey, she emphasized their commitment to Detroit’s growth and resurgence. The cafe’s creation, she noted, transformed a vacant building into a dynamic community space.

CRED Cafe is not just a business venture; it’s a commitment to the local community. The cafe aims to provide employment opportunities for Detroiters and has partnered with several city-based contractors. Mayor Duggan commended the Crawford brothers for their dedication to reinvesting in the city that raised them.

“CRED Cafe represents how individuals like Joe and Jordan, who have achieved success at the highest levels outside of Detroit and Michigan, are coming back home to reinvest in the city that raised them,” said Mayor Duggan. “I’m so proud of what they have done with CRED Cafe, and I just know the community will support them.”

Motor City Match, a vital small-business program, facilitated the Crawford family’s entrepreneurial journey. Through its last 24 rounds, the program has distributed $15.7 million in cash grants, with a focus on supporting minority-owned, women-owned, and Detroit-based businesses, according to the outlet.

Sean Gray, vice president of Small Business Services at the DEGC, lauded the ambitious family’s creation of CRED Cafe, emphasizing its role as a special community space contributing to Detroit’s vibrancy. The cafe encapsulates the Crawford family’s dream of uplifting Detroit, turning conversations from years ago into a reality.